The federal government is investing big bucks to tackle the needs of young people with disabilities as they transition to adulthood.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Services Administration said that it will spend nearly $199 million to fund model demonstration projects in 20 states designed to prepare young people with disabilities for independent living, competitive integrated employment and community integration.

The projects, all part of the Rehabilitation Services Administration’s Pathways to Partnerships initiative, will involve collaboration between state vocational rehabilitation agencies, educational agencies and centers for independent living, officials said.

Grant recipients will have five years to pilot, refine and implement their ideas and collect and analyze data on their results.

“The department is committed to providing children and youth with disabilities the supports they need to access self-advocacy training, career pathways and independent living. The Pathways to Partnerships will bridge gaps from school to adult life, independent living and career success,” said Glenna Wright-Gallo, assistant secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, which oversees the Rehabilitation Services Administration. “This investment will not only require state and local agencies to improve outcomes for individuals with disabilities by finding innovative ways of working together, but it will also look to unlock post school and career success for those individuals.”

Most of the selected states will get about $10 million each for their projects. Funding is going toward initiatives in Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Vermont and Wyoming.

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